Mosaic of Christ Pantokrator, in Hosios Loukas.
Decoration in the Grand Mosque in Kuwait
The Islamic culture and the Byzantine empire both greatly believed in representing their faith through their art. The decoration in the Grand Mosque in Kuwait is a magnificent example of the religious intent in Islam. This decoration consists of arabesque, which is a floral pattern, geometric shapes, and bright colors. The mosaic of Christ Pantokrator, in Hosios Loukas is a prime example of how the Byzantine Empire represented their faith. This image depicts Jesus in front of a gold background with a halo around his head and uses very sombre tones. The Islamic culture better represented its spirituality through its art than the Byzantine empire because it was more about representation than realism.
In Islam, art is more spiritual than physical.
- The art used geometry and floral patterns because they best represented the infinity of Allah and because iconography was forbidden as idolatry.
- It isn't art for art’s sake but is part of objects in their daily life. The use of these objects reminds them of their spirituality.
By utilizing geometric shapes and arabesques rather than figures, Islamic art has a more divine quality than Byzantine art.
The Byzantine empire’s religious art had more of a physical appearance.
The Byzantine’s used simple people and figures in their art to show their faith.
Their art showed remarkable homogeneity .
Instead of using geometric shapes the Byzantine’s used icons and lavish colors like gold and silver to represent the wealth and power of God.
By the Byzantine’s using figures and people in their art, they gave off more of a physical feel in their art rather than a spiritual one.
Hussain, Z.. N.p.. Web. 19 Dec 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/art/art_1.shtml>.
. N.p.. Web. 19 Dec 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/87136/Byzantine-art>.
"Byzantine Art." Byzantine Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment